"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." ~Matthew 5:8

On Sunday, July 11, 1926, the late Alonzo Hightower and Mittie C. Maples welcomed their first daughter, Elonzia Mae Hightower to the family in Doughterty County, Albany, Georgia.

She was privileged to be reared in a Christian home by her mother and step-father, Q.T. McKinney where her faith in God guided their family's life.

She was the second eldest of seven siblings, and was affectionately known as "Sut," "Lonza Mae," "Mother and Grandma Mae." She attended the public schools of Mitchell County in Camilla, GA, and in her young adult years, relocated to Savannah, GA.

Upon settling in Savannah, she joined Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of The Rev. Jeremiah Matthew Benton, where her Christian faith was nourished and sustained. She was a member of the Sunday School, Orchettes, and served on countless anniversary committees. She was among the first group of the church's Transportation Ministry, which provided a means of transportation for all with the need and desire to utilize this service.

She believed every Christian has a song, and hers was, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus."

Her favorite scripture was the Beatitudes, Matthew Chapter 5.

She studied at Madame Cargo Beauty School and worked as a cosmetologist.

In 1969, she completed the Community Development and Communications Program Coursework at Savannah State College.

She was an avid gardener of plants and vegetables and found pleasure and much pride in her harvest.

She was employed at Charles Moultrie Memorial Preschool, Senior Citizens, Inc., and the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, retiring on April 30, 1998.

Elonzia was blessed with seven children, 20 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.

She lived a full, healthy, independent, and productive life for almost a century.

Surrounded in love by her children and grandchildren, two days prior to her 99th birthday, she completed the journey of life, and eased peacefully into eternity at the dawning of a new day at 5:02 AM, Wednesday, July 8, 2025 at Candler Hospital.

She was preceded in death by her father, Alonzo Hightower; mother and step-father, Mittie C. and Q.T. McKinney; eldest daughter, Shirley Daniels; youngest son, Allison (Al) Daniels; brothers: Henry Maples and M.C. McKinney; and sisters: Annie Doris Spence and Annie Ruth Bowens.

She graced this world for nearly a century, and her memory will forever rest in the hearts of her children and their spouses: Elder Awanda Daniels (Minister Ernest) Brisbane, Dwight Daniels, Deaconess Chinitha Daniels (Deacon Sylvester) Bulloch, Vanessa Miller (Michael) Kaigler, and Renae Miller (Dennis) McCullough; daughter-in-law, Terrell Daniels Dickerson; siblings: Evonne Burns and Willie McKinney; 20 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loved ones.

Public Viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Campbell and Sons Funeral Home, 2520 Bonaventure Road, Savannah, GA 31404.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 11:00am at Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1110 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Savannah, GA 31415.

Entombment ~ Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 315 Bonaventure Road, Savannah, GA 31404.

Please sign our guestbook at www.campbellandsonsfuneralhome.com